joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "MR JAMES CLARK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrjamesclark121@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2011 19:15:53 +0100
Subject: WAITING FOR YOUR QUICK RESPOND

Attention,
The British High Commission in Nigeria,United State Of America, Canada & Australia & Arab & Asia received a report of scam activities against you and other American, Canadian & Australian citizens, Etc. The countries where this scam artist reside are United Kingdom, Nigeria, Benin Republic,and Ghana have recompensed you following the meeting held with the four countries' Government and various countries' high commission for the fraudulent activities carried out by the four countries' Citizens.
Your name was among those scammed as listed by the U.N Financial Intelligent Unit (UFIU). Compensation has been issued out in Certified Bank Drafts to all the affected victims and has been already been in distribution to all the bearers. Your draft was among those that were reported undelivered as at Friday and we wish to advise you to see to the instructions of the Committee to make sure you receive your draft immediately.
According to the number of applicants at hand, 184 Beneficiaries has been paid, more than half of the victims were from the United States & Canada, and we still have more 137 left to be paid the compensations of $2,500,000.00 USD each.
Your particulars was mentioned by one of the Syndicates who was arrested as one of their victims of the operations, you are hereby warned not to communicate or duplicate this message to him for any reason whatsoever as the U.S. secret service is already on trace of the other criminals.
So keep it secret till they are all apprehended. Other victims who have not been contacted can submit their application as well for scrutiny and possible consideration.
UFIU further told us that the use of British postal services was abolished due to interception activities noticed in the above mentioned postal services in United Kingdom & Nigeria & Benin & Ghana and thereby have made a concrete arrangement with the Courier Company  in the United states for a safe delivery to your door-step once the beneficiary meets up the demand of the conveyance.
We advise that you do the needful to make sure the UFIU dispatches your Draft on Friday.
You are assured of the safety of your draft and availability. Be advised that you should stop further contacts with all the fake lawyers and security companies who in collaboration scammed you. Get back to me immediately through my assistant Mr.James Campnell with your correct full details.
1.Full Name,
2.Contact Address
3.Telephone Number
4.A scanned copy of your i.d.
Yours in Service,
Mr.James Clark
+2347091240093

Anti-fraud resources: